Patent application title: Lamp

Abstract:

A lamp includes at least one luminous source (14, 6, 8), in particular a
low-pressure discharge lamp, for producing main illumination and having
at least one alternative luminous element (22), in particular a
light-emitting diode arrangement having at least one LED, for producing
alternative illumination, which are arranged on a cap (12) , and having
electronics, wherein a switching arrangement, which can be actuated
manually, for operating the lamp in the main illumination mode, the
alternative illumination mode or in both illumination modes at the same
time is provided in the cap.

Claims:

1. A lamp with at least one light source (4, 6, 8), in particular a
low-pressure discharge lamp, for producing a main illumination and with
at least one alternative luminous means (22), in particular a
light-emitting diode arrangement with at least one LED, for producing an
alternative illumination, which are arranged on a base (12), and with
electronics, characterized in that a manually actuable switching
arrangement (32, 34, 36, 38) for operating the lamp in the main
illumination mode, alternative illumination mode or in both illumination
modes at the same time is provided in the base (12).

2. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, the switching arrangement (32, 34, 36,
38) having a slide (32) for producing an electrical connection between an
electrical line (40) of the electronics and at least one contact element
(34, 36) of the light source (4, 6, 8) or the alternative luminous means
(22).

3. The lamp as claimed in claim 2, the electrical line (40) being
connected to the slide (32) in such a way that a line section (38) which
extends in the sliding direction and can be brought to rest directly at
least against one of the contact elements (34, 36) is formed.

4. The lamp as claimed in claim 2, the slide (32) having two opposite
narrow sides, on which in each case one projection (28, 30) for actuating
the slide (32) is formed, which projection extends through a recess (46,
48) in the base (12).

5. The lamp as claimed in claim 4, the recesses (46, 48) being formed
diametrically with respect to one another in the base cover (10).

6. The lamp as claimed in claim 5, switching positions of the slide (32)
being defined by end faces (68a, 68b, 70a, 70b) running onto an inner
circumferential section (74a, 74b, 76a, 76b) of the base cover (10) in
the region of the recesses (46, 48).

7. The lamp as claimed in claim 2, the alternative luminous means (22)
being arranged on a dome (24), which extends through the base cover (10)
and has an extension (50) with two opposite cutouts (60, 62) for passing
through the slide (32), the contact elements (34, 36) being arranged in a
corner region (64, 66) of the cutouts (60, 62).

8. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, the light source having a discharge
vessel (4, 6, 8).

9. The lamp as claimed in claim 2, the light source having a discharge
vessel (4, 6, 8).

10. The lamp as claimed in claim 3, the light source having a discharge
vessel (4, 6, 8).

11. The lamp as claimed in claim 4, the light source having a discharge
vessel (4, 6, 8).

12. The lamp as claimed in claim 5, the light source having a discharge
vessel (4, 6, 8).

13. The lamp as claimed in claim 6, the light source having a discharge
vessel (4, 6, 8).

14. The lamp as claimed in claim 7, the light source having a discharge
vessel (4, 6, 8).

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The invention relates to a lamp with at least one light source and
at least one alternative luminous means in accordance with the
precharacterizing clause of patent claim 1.

PRIOR ART

[0002]Such a lamp is known, for example, from DE 201 16 719 U1 as a
nightlight lamp. The lamp is in the form of a discharge lamp with two
discharge vessels for producing a main illumination and an LED for
producing an alternative illumination. The main illumination and the
alternative illumination are switched on alternately via a wall switch
and an electrical resistor, which is connected in parallel with the wall
switch, the lamp being operated in the main illumination mode when the
wall switch is switched on and in the alternative illumination mode when
the wall switch is switched off. In order to prevent the lamp from
switching to the alternative illumination mode given sufficient
brightness when the wall switch is switched off, a photoelement is
provided. One disadvantage of this solution is that it is not possible to
intentionally choose between the main illumination and the alternative
illumination, but that the lamp automatically changes to the alternative
illumination mode when the wall switch is switched off and in the case of
reduced brightness.

[0003]A lamp with a discharge vessel and an LED in which the LED, i.e. the
alternative illumination, can be switched on or off intentionally is
disclosed in WO 02/062106 A1. This lamp provides control electronics,
which are connected to power supply lines of the discharge vessel and the
LED in such a way that the lamp can be operated in the main illumination
mode, in the alternative illumination mode or in both illumination modes
at the same time as a function of an actuation sequence of a wall switch.
One disadvantage with this solution is that complex control electronics
and a complicated actuation sequence of the wall switch are required for
intentionally switching on the alternative illumination.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004]The invention is based on the object of providing a lamp with at
least one light source and an alternative luminous means, which lamp
makes it possible. to manually switch over between individual operating
or illumination modes given minimum complexity in terms of apparatus.

[0005]This object is achieved as regards the lamp by the combination of
features of patent claim 1. Particularly advantageous embodiments of the
invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0006]The lamp according to the invention provides at least one light
source, in particular a low-pressure discharge lamp, for producing a main
illumination and at least one alternative luminous means, in particular a
light-emitting diode arrangement with at least one LED, for producing an
alternative illumination. The light source and the alternative luminous
means are arranged on a base, in which corresponding electronics are
accommodated. In order to operate the lamp in the main illumination mode,
alternative illumination mode or in both illumination modes at the same
time, a manually actuable switching arrangement is provided in accordance
with the invention in the base.

[0007]The manually actuable switching arrangement in the lamp base has the
advantage that it is possible to dispense with complex control
electronics and a complicated actuation sequence of a wall switch as
described, for example, in the document WO 02/062106 A1 mentioned at the
outset in order to be able to change between the illumination modes.

[0008]In a preferred embodiment, the manually actuable switching
arrangement has a slide, which produces an electrical connection between
an electrical line of the electronics and an electrical contact element
of a power supply line of the light source or the alternative luminous
means. Of course the electrical connection can also be produced via the
slide at the same time with the two contact elements. Preferably, the
electrical line is fixed on the slide in such a way that it has a line
section extending in the sliding direction for the purpose of making
contact with at least one of the contact elements.

[0009]In order to actuate the slide, it can have two projections, which
extend from its opposite narrow sides through two recesses, which are
preferably arranged diametrically with respect to one another in the base
cover.

[0010]In one embodiment, a switching position or a displacement of the
slide is defined by end faces of the slide running onto inner
circumferential sections of the base cover in the region of the recesses.

[0011]The contact element of the power supply line of the light source and
the contact element of the power supply line of the alternative luminous
means can be arranged on an extension of a dome bearing the LED, which
extension extends through the base cover. Advantageously, the extension
has two opposite cutouts for passing through the slide, the contact
elements each being arranged in a corner region of the cutouts.

[0012]The luminous means preferably has a discharge vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference
to a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the drawings:

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the
lamp according to the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of a base cover with a
discharge vessel and an LED and a slide from FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 shows a view from below of the base cover from FIG. 2, and

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a lamp 2
according to the invention. The lamp 2 is preferably in the form of a
compact fluorescent lamp with a low-pressure discharge lamp as the light
source for producing a main illumination. The light source has a
discharge vessel with three U-shaped discharge tubes 4, 6, 8, which are
arranged on a base cover 10 of a base 12. The discharge tube 4 is
connected to the discharge tube 6 and the discharge tube 8 via in each
case one connecting web 14, 16, so that a common discharge space is
formed. In order to accommodate the lamp 2 in a lampholder (not
illustrated), a thread section 20 is formed on the base 12.

[0019]Furthermore, the lamp 2 has an alternative luminous means 22
(indicated by dashed lines), preferably a light-emitting diode
arrangement, for producing an alternative illumination. In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the light-emitting diode arrangement comprises a
light-emitting diode or LED. In order not to subject the LED 22 to
excessively high thermal loading by means of the main illumination, it is
arranged on a dome or extender 24, which extends from the base cover 10
between the discharge tubes 4, 6, 8 up to discharge tube regions, the
so-called "cold spots", which are horizontal in the illustration in the
figure, so that the LED 22 is positioned in a region which is subjected
to a low thermal load.

[0020]In order to operate the lamp 2 in the main illumination mode, in the
alternative illumination mode or in both illumination modes at the same
time, a manually actuable switching arrangement is provided in the base
12, of which switching arrangement two projections 28, 30 of a slide for
actuating the latter are shown in FIG. 1. The switching arrangement as
shown in the following figures substantially comprises the slide 32,
contact elements 34, 36, which are connected to power supply lines of the
light source 4, 6, 8 and the LED 22, and a line section 38 of an
electrical line 40 of electronics accommodated in the base 12.

[0021]As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base cover 10 has an interior 42,
which is delimited by a peripheral circumferential wall 44. In order to
connect the base cover 10 to the base 12, the circumferential wall 44 has
a radially set-back outer circumferential face 26, so that a set-back
body region to be accommodated in the base 12 and an annular shoulder
face 18 for bearing against a corresponding annular end face of the base
12 are formed. The connection between the base cover 10 and the base 12
preferably takes place via a snap-action connection, but adhesive bonding
or welding joints are also feasible, for example. The slide 32 passes
diagonally through the interior 42, two recesses 46, 48, which are
arranged diametrically with respect to one another, for passing through
its projections 28, 30 being formed in the circumferential wall 44.

[0022]The dome 24 is arranged centrally on the base cover 10 and extends
with an extension 50 into the interior 42. The dome 24 or the extension
50 has a cavity 52, which is delimited by walls 54, 56, 58, which are
arranged substantially in triangular form with respect to one another. In
addition, the base cover 10 is reinforced by the dome 24 extending into
the interior 42. In order to pass through the slide 32, the walls 54, 56,
which are opposite the recesses 46, 48, of the dome 24 each have a cutout
60, 62, in whose corner regions 64, 66 the contact elements 34, 36 are
arranged. In order to better fix the contact elements 34, 36, they are in
the form of hooks, with them engaging around sections of the corner
regions 64, 66.

[0023]As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the slide 32 has a plate-like, elongate
design, the projections 28, 30 being formed on its opposite narrow sides.
The projections 28, 30 are graduated symmetrically with respect to the
slide longitudinal axis, so that in each case two end faces 68a, 68b,
70a, 70b are formed in the transverse direction of the slide on the
narrow sides, which end faces can define a switching position and
therefore an instantaneous illumination mode by means of running onto a
correspondingly opposite inner circumferential section 74a, 74b, 76a, 76b
of the circumferential wall 44.

[0024]In the slide 32, two drilled holes 78, 80 close to the edge for
accommodating the electrical line 40 are formed in a central body region
72. In this case, the electrical lines 40 is passed downward, i.e. from a
lower side 84 facing the electronics, through the first drilled hole 78
and then upward, i.e. from a side facing the base cover 10, through the
second drilled hole 80. The drilled holes 78, 80 are arranged in the
longitudinal direction of the slide, with a line section 38, from which
the insulation has been stripped and which extends in the sliding
direction, of the electrical line 40 being formed between the drilled
holes 78, 80, which line section 38 can be brought into contact with at
least one of the contact elements 34, 36. In the process, the line
section 38 and the contact elements 34, 36 are arranged one above the
other in the longitudinal direction of the lamp, i.e. in the vertical
direction in the illustration in FIG. 1, so that the line section 38 and
the respective contact elements 34, 36 touch in a plane which runs
substantially orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of
the lamp. In order to prevent the electrical line 40 from being separated
from the slide 32 or the line section 38 from changing its relative
position on the slide 32, a clamping body, 82, for example a sleeve, is
provided, which engages around sections of the electrical line 40 and is
fixed in the region of the first drilled hole 78 on the facing lower side
84 of the slide 32.

[0025]As shown in the illustrations in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the event of a
displacement of the slide 32 to the left, the line section 38 is
connected to the left-hand contact element 34, and, in the event of a
displacement to the right, to the right-hand contact element 36, so that
the lamp 2 is operated in the main illumination mode or in the
alternative illumination mode depending on the assignment of the contact
element 34, 36 to the power supply lines. In a mid-position of the slide
32, the line section 38 is connected to both contact elements 34, 36, so
that the lamp 2 is operated in the main illumination mode and in the
alternative illumination mode at the same time.

[0026]In addition to the switching arrangement described here in FIGS. 1
to 4 with a slide 32, it is likewise conceivable for the switching
arrangement to be designed to have, for example, a manually actuable
mechanical or electronic toggle switch or pushbutton.

[0027]It is also conceivable for the dome 24 not to be passed through the
base cover 10 and instead for the base cover 10 to otherwise be provided
with a fixing section for the contact elements 34, 36 in the region of
the extension 50.

[0028]The invention discloses a lamp with at least one light source, in
particular a low-pressure discharge lamp, for producing a main
illumination and with at least one alternative luminous means, in
particular a light-emitting diode arrangement with at least one LED, for
producing an alternative illumination, which are arranged on a base, and
with electronics, a manually actuable switching arrangement for operating
the lamp in the main illumination mode, alternative illumination mode or
in both illumination modes at the same time being provided in the base.